Cash register



Jan. 29, 1935. M. GOLDBERG 1,989,313

CASH REGISTER Filed Oct. 23, 1930 Maximilian M. Galina."

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Patented Jan. 29, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CASH REGISTER Maximilian M. Goldberg, Dayton,

to The National Cash Ohio, assignor Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Maryland Application October 23,

7 Claims.

January 29, 1929, in connection with which it is conveniently illustrated.

In balancing accounts'such as savings accounts in banks, it-is. desirable and often necessary that the operator be informed of the occurrence of a negative balance.

In the devices heretofore used, either a bell or a shutter extending over the totalizer was employed to warn the operator of such a condition, but these prior devices were found to be unsatisfactory, since, where a bell was used and many machines were being operated in the same room, the bell on one machine would distract the attention of the other operators, and, where a shutter over the totalizer was used, the operator would not become aware of an overdraft unless he was looking at the totalizer at the time.

One of the objects of this invention, therefore, is to provide a suitable overdraft mechanism, which will give. a visual, rather than an audible signal, and one which is sure to attract the attention of the operator.

As one means to effect this result, the overdraft. mechanism is arranged to control an electric circuit through an electric lamp, so that when an. overdraft occurs, the circuit will be closed and the current will energize the lamp.

It has been observed, however, that where an electric light is used for an infrequent indication, trouble is experienced in that the lamp occasionally burns out, leaving the operator in ignorance of thechanged condition of the machine, and it is, therefore, a further object of this invention to provide a system of lighting that will inform the operator of such changed condition even though the indicating lamp may be disabled.

A still further object of the invention is to automatically restore the, indicator to its original state when the overdraft condition has been relieved.

Withthese and incidental objects in view, the invention, includes certain novel features of construction and combination of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in appended claims. and apreferred form or embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference to thedrawing which accompany and form a part of thisspecification.

In. thedrawing Fig. 1 is a front elevation showing a part' of the 1930, Serial No. 490,703

indicator operating mechanism, and its relation to the totalizer.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the essential'parts of the mechanism, including the electrical contact members.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation on a slightly reduced scale, showing the mechanism for shifting the totalizer, all of which is either shown or referred to in the above-mentioned patent to Shipley.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the sysl0 tem of wiring for the switch and indicating lights.

General description Described in general terms, this mechanism is adapted to give an indication, by illuminating electric lamps, whenever the totalizer wheel of highest denomination has rotated subtractively from zero to nine", or from an amount greater than zero, to an amount less than zero. Such a movement of the totalizer is commonly known as an overdraft, and will be referred to as such herein.

In the type of machine disclosed in the patent to.Shipley referred to above, the totalizer wheel of highest denomination has no corresponding 26 bank of amount keys, and consequently, can turn in either direction, only by single digit amounts or steps, which are imparted to it by the transfer mechanism from the wheel of next lower denomination. It necessarily follows that when- 30 ever the totalizer registers less than zero, that is,

a negative balance, this wheel of highest denomination has been rotated subtractively one, and only one step; i. e., from 0 to 9. This extra totalizer wheel is appropriately called an overflow wheel, and reference will hereafter be made to it as such.

The existence of such a uniform positioning makes possible the operation of the novel device disclosed herein. In this machine, when the amount registered on the totalizer is over drawn by the subtraction of a larger amount therefrom, the overflow wheel, by its single step movement, positions a tappet, mounted on the totalizer frame, in the path of a cam member which is operated by said tappet when the totalizer is shifted from engaged to disengaged position. The cam member thereupon throws a double contact switch to break a circuit through one lamp, and close a circuit through another.

The present embodiment employs two lamps, indicated "Red and Green on the drawing (Fig. 4). The circuit through the green lamp is maintained closed during the normal operation of the machine, and is opened only when the switch is thrown, at which time the circuit through the red lamp is closed.

This dual lamp system has been employed so 5 that if the red lamp should become disabled, and

the positive amount registered on the totalizer should then be overdrawn, the operator would be informed of such a condition by the darkening of the green light and the failure of the red lamp to light. Likewise, if the green lamp should at any time become disabled, the operator would be informed of the trouble through the failure of the red lamp to light.

In practice or actual use, the existence of a negative balance on the totalizer will be temporary only, hence the operator will become used to the continued presence of a green light, and the change to red will be instantly noticed, as will the absence of any light which will occur in the event,

that the green light has burned out or been damaged otherwise while the totalizer is registering a positive amount. It will be understood that so long as the totalizer registers a positive balance, the green light remains lit, and in the form herein shown, the presence of a negative balance on the totalizer will be indicated by an alternation of red and green lights, the red light remaining as long as the totalizer carrying the negative balance remains in normal position at the end of an operation. As the totalizer carrying the negative balance is engaged with its actuators the switch automatically shifts to energize the green lamp, but is again shifted to complete the circuit through the red lamp at the end of the operation in case the balance registered on the totalizer remains negative.

When the overdraft condition of the totalizer has been relieved, either by a total taking operation, or by the entry of an additive item greater than the negative balance on the totalizer, the tappet will be returned to its initial position out of contact with the cam member, which will allow the double contact switch to return to normal position under the influence of a spring. This will place the device in its normal condition, with the green lamp illuminated and the red lamp darkened.

Detailed description Since the present invention is, for convenience, shown applied to a machine of the type disclosed in the above mentioned Shipley patent, reference to such patent will make clear the Various parts of the machine and their operation, thus rendering it unnecessary to repeat such description herein.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 11 is a portion of the left side frame of the machine, onto which is rigidly secured one end of a cross rod 12, the cam plate 13, and the guide bracket 14. This guide bracket 14 serves to hold the totalizer frame 15 in alignment when it is being shifted axially, by the shifting cam 16.

Totalizer shifting mechanism Whenever an amount is to be put on or taken off the totalizer, comprised of adding wheels 1'? and subtracting wheels 18, it is shifted bodily into engagement with the racks 19, which are thus rotated a distance proportioned to the amount to be entered. The totalizer is then re-shifted to its initial disengaged position, as shown in Fig. 2.

The usual totalizer wheel aligning bar 20 is shown in Fig. 2. It is supported by the arms 21 (only one of which is shown) loose on a rod 22 carried by the totalizer frame 15. This aligning bar 20 is actuated by the usual cam 23 upon engagement and disengagement of the totalizer with and from the actuators. The above mechanism is disclosed and described in a patent, No. 1,619,796, issued to Bernis M. Shipley on March 1,

The mechanism for shifting thetotalizer is shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and consists of two cam plates 13 (only one of which is shown) situated on opposite sides of the totalizer, each secured to the stationary frame of the machine. Guided by slots 24 and 25 in cam plates 13, the totalizer frame members 26 and 27, and the totalizer shaft 32, are shifted in the following manner. A plate 33 is loosely mounted on the shaft 34 and formed with a'hooked portion 35, which engages a stud 36. fixed to a link 37. A stud 38 fixed to the opposite end of the link 37 is pivotally connected to the frame member 27. A stud'39 is fixed to the frame member 2'7 and extends into the slot 24 of the cam plate 13 for sliding movement therein. The totalizer shaft 32 is fixedly mounted in the opposite end of the frame member 27, and extends through that member and into the slot 25 in cam plate 13.

Thus, when motion is imparted to plate 33 in a clockwise direction, by driving members (not shown), the link 37 is pulled downwardly and with it the end of frame member 27 carrying stud 38. Due to the stud 39 extending into the slot 24, and shaft 32 being rigid in relation to stud 39, shaft 32 is forced into the bottom of slot 25 as the frame member is rotated slightly counterclockwise.- As will be observed from Fig. 2, this movement engages the totalizer wheels with the racks 19.

When the totalizer is thus rocked into engagement with the racks 19, the aligning pin 43 is moved into one of a series of apertures 44 in the shifting cam 16, which prevents any movement between these two members, and insures proper alignment between the racks 19 and the totalizer wheels.

Subtracting mechanism The mechanism for subtracting consists of the two totalizer wheels 1'7 and 18 for each denomination, which are geared together by pinions 45 mounted on studs 48 fast on collars 47 fixed to shaft 32' The wheels 1'7 and 18 are both free to rotate on shaft 32, and are held in proper spaced relation by spacing collars 46 and 47.

When it is desired to subtract, the totalizer is shifted from its right-hand, or adding position, to its left-hand or subtracting position, by means of the shifting cam 16. This permits the subtracting wheels 18 to lie in line with the racks 19, as shown in Fig. 1, so that when the number to be subtracted is run on the wheels 18 by a movement of the racks 19 in an additive direction, the total wheels 1'7 will receive a corresponding movement in the subtractive direction, through the operation of the fixed pinions 45. i

The wheels are so positioned that when the adding wheels 1'7 stand at 0, the subtracting wheels 18 stand at 9, and hence, if, when the totalizer is standing at zero, a number is run onto the subtracting wheels 18 by the customary movement of racks 19, in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 2, the adding Wheels 17 will undergo an overdraft, and, as viewed from Fig. 2, theover flow wheel will be rotated counter-clockwise one step,

Since all the above mentioned mechanism is well known in the art, a further description of the same will not be given here, but the same may be had by reference to the patent to Bernis M. Shipley, heretofore mentioned.

Indicator operating mechanism Secured to the adding wheel 17 of the overflow wheel is a sleeve 49, in which is dove-tailed a spacing sleeve 50, also dove-tailed in the tappet sleeve 51. To this sleeve 51 is rigidly secured the tappet 52. The three sleeves 49, 50 and 51 are all free to rotate on the shaft 32.

Pivoted on the shaft 12 is a bail-shaped cam 53, held in proper alignment by collars 54 and 55 fixed to shaft 12. The cam 53 has a short arm 56 having a slot 57 formed in its end, which receives a stud 58 fixed to the switch lever 59. The switch lever 59 is pivotally mounted on a headed stud 60 fast to the frame 11 of the machine. A spacing collar 61 holds the switch lever in proper alignment. On the upper end of the switch lever and insulated therefrom, is mounted a contact arm 62, the end of which lies between stationary contacts 63 and 64, also insulated from the machine.

As explained above, when an overdraft occurs in the totalizer, the adding wheel 1'7 of the overflow wheel rotates counter-clockwise one step, as seen from Fig. 2. This movement rotates the tappet 52, through the sleeves 49, 50 and 51, a corresponding amount, which places the tappet in a position to rotate the cam 53 clockwise, when the totalizer is shifted to disengaged position. The clockwise rotation of cam 53 and its arm 56 rotates the switch lever 59 and the contact arm 62 in a counter-clockwise direction, due to the stud 58 and slot '7, which shifts the contact arm 62 from contact 63 to contact 64. As will be seen in Fig. 4, this will cause the green lamp to be darkened and the red lamp to be lighted, indicating that the totalizer has been overdrafted.

The lamps will remain in this condition until the totalizer is again shifted into engagement with the racks 19, at which time a return spring 65 will restore the members 53, 59 and 62 to their original positions. If the new amount which is now being run onto the totalizer gives it a zero or a positive reading, the tappet 52 will be returned to its normal position shown in Fig. 2, and the contact arm 62 will remain engaged with contact 63, indicating that the overdraft has been eliminated. If, however, the totalizer still registers a negative amount after the new number is entered, the tappet 52 will remain in advanced position, and, upon the totalizer returning to disengaged position, will operate the cam 53, causing the red light to again appear, indicating that the totalizer is still overdrawn.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form or embodiment herein disclosed, for it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a totalizer shiftable from engaged to disengaged position; of a cam, a mechanism including a totalizer controlled tappet operable, when the totalizer is moving from engaged to disengaged position, to shift the cam; and electrical means, shifted by said cam, operable to indicate an overdraft.

2. In a machine of the class described, in combination with a register; an overdraft indicator including two lamps, one of said lamps being lighted while the register remains in its normal condition, and the other of said lamps being lighted only when the register is in an overdrafted condition; and means controlled by a movement of the totalizer frame for controlling said lights.

3. In a machine of the class described, in combination with a register, a continuously lighted lamp, and means including a double contact switch operated during movement of the totalizer frame for darkening said lamp and lighting a second lamp upon an overdraft of said register.

4. In a machine of the class described, in combination with a register, an overdraft indicator including two lamps, means for closing a circuit through one lamp while the register is in normal condition, and means for opening this circuit and closing a circuit through the other lamp when the register is in an overdrafted condition, said last mentioned means including a tappet, a cam and a contact lever, said tappet moving said cam, and said cam moving said contact lever.

5. In a machine of the class described, an overdraft indicator including a laterally movable shaft, a tappet pivotally mounted on the shaft, 3. second shaft, an oscillatory cam mounted on the second shaft, and a contact lever, said contact lever being oscillated by said cam to cause the indication of an overdraft, when said cam is oscillated by said tappet.

6. In a machine of the class described, a totalizer adapted to move into engaged and disengaged positions, a mechanism controlled thereby to indicate an overdraft, and a member pivoted in axial alignment with the totalizer and effective, when the totalizer is in disengaged position, to positively hold a part of the mechanism in a certain position.

7. In a machine of the class described a totalizer adapted to move into engaged and disengaged positions, a mechanism to indicate an overdraft, a pivoted member, and means to cause the member to actuate a part of the overdraft mechanism as the totalizer moves into disengaged position.

MAiCIMILIAN M. GOLDBERG. 

